Which term describes the process of plaque buildup in coronary arteries that narrows the lumen?

Which term describes the process of plaque buildup in coronary arteries that narrows the lumen?

• A. Atherosclerosis
• B. Myocarditis
• C. Endocarditis
• D. Arrhythmia

Answer: (A)

Atherosclerosis is the buildup of plaques inside arterial walls that narrows the lumen. In the coronary arteries, this process starts with cholesterol-rich lipids accumulating in the intima, drawing in immune cells and forming foam cells that create a fatty streak. Over time, smooth muscle cells migrate and lay down connective tissue, forming a fibrous plaque that thickens and stiffens the vessel wall. As the plaque enlarges, the space for blood flow decreases, reducing perfusion to the heart muscle, especially during increased demand. If a plaque ruptures, a clot can form and further block the artery, triggering a heart attack. The other conditions refer to different problems: myocarditis is inflammation of the heart muscle, endocarditis is infection of the heart’s inner lining or valves, and arrhythmia is an abnormal heart rhythm—neither describes the lipid-driven plaque buildup narrowing the coronary lumen.

Atherosclerosis is the buildup of plaques inside arterial walls that narrows the lumen. In the coronary arteries, this process starts with cholesterol-rich lipids accumulating in the intima, drawing in immune cells and forming foam cells that create a fatty streak. Over time, smooth muscle cells migrate and lay down connective tissue, forming a fibrous plaque that thickens and stiffens the vessel wall. As the plaque enlarges, the space for blood flow decreases, reducing perfusion to the heart muscle, especially during increased demand. If a plaque ruptures, a clot can form and further block the artery, triggering a heart attack.

The other conditions refer to different problems: myocarditis is inflammation of the heart muscle, endocarditis is infection of the heart’s inner lining or valves, and arrhythmia is an abnormal heart rhythm—neither describes the lipid-driven plaque buildup narrowing the coronary lumen.